Ministry of Higher Education 4th Year (Power)

Higher Institute of Aviation Engineering and Technology Sheet No. 2 (Turbo-machines 1)

Mechanical Power Engineering 2022-2023

Similarity of Fluid Machines

1. The drag on a 30-ft long, vertical, 1.25-ft diameter pole subjected to a 30-mph wind is
to be determined with a model study. It is expected that the drag is a function of the
pole length and diameter, the fluid density and viscosity, and the fluid velocity.
Laboratory model tests were performed in a high-speed water tunnel using a model
pole having a length of 2 ft and a diameter of 1 in. Some model drag data are shown in
figure. Based on these data, predict the drag on the full-sized pole.

2. The pressure rise, Δp, across a centrifugal pump of a given shape (see the figure) can
be expressed as: Δp = fn (D, ω, ρ, Q)
where D is the impeller diameter, ɷ the angular velocity of the impeller, ρ the fluid
density, and Q the volume rate of flow through the pump. A model pump having a
diameter of 8 in. is tested in the laboratory using water. When operated at an angular
velocity of 40 π rad/s the model pressure rise as a function of Q is shown in figure.
Use this curve to predict the pressure rise across a geometrically similar pump
(prototype) for a prototype flowrate of 6 ft3/s. The prototype has a diameter of 12 in.
and operates at an angular velocity of 60π rad/s. The prototype fluid is also water.
3. A radial pump is used for the transport of a crude oil through a 120 km long pipeline.
Due to the change of requirements, the capacity of the line has to be increased by 20%
while the expected increase of the pumping head is 45% of the original values.
Therefor it was decided to replace the pump by a similar one having a different size to
cope with the new requirements. Find the necessary ratio of pump size and the
expected changes in pump speed and power requirements assuming complete dynamic
similarity and 10% density increase of crude oil.
4. The design data of a centrifugal pump were discharge: 80 m3/hr., head = 40 m. and
overall efficiency= 0.80. After manufacturing processes, it was found that the of
impeller was less than the design value by 8 %. Assuming complete dynamic
similarity:
• Find the actual values of discharge head and power of the pump when it runs at
the design speed of rotation
• Find the necessary percentage change of speed to obtain the pump design head
and then find the power to drive the pump.
5. Toshka pumping station is used to lift water from Nile River to Shaikh Zaid canal.
Due to variation of water level in the Nile, the required head varies from 22 m to 57 m
and variable speed motors are used to drive the pumps. At minimum head, the pump
delivers 15.7 m3/sec and runs at a speed of 210 rpm. For complete dynamic similarity.
find the discharge, speed and power at maximum head knowing that pump overall
efficiency is 0.88.
6. The performance curves of a centrifugal pump show that the pump head is 80m water
at flow rate of 50 m3/hr., pump efficiency of 0.78 and a speed of 2900 rpm. This pump
will be used for pumping oil which has a specific gravity of 0.82 and will be run at
speed of 1450 rpm. Find the head and the discharge in case of oil pumping if the effect
of oil viscosity is to reduce the pump efficiency by 3 percent find the pumping power.
7. A centrifugal pump has an impeller diameter of 0.25 m and gives at maximum
efficiency point a discharge of 4.2 m3/min of water at 1480 rpm against a head of 4 m
and consumes 3.5 kW. It is required to use a similar pump for pumping oil at a rate of
30 m3/min under a head of 32m. What would be the expected impeller size, speed and
power. Oil specific gravity is 0.8.
8. It is required to design a centrifugal pump and centrifugal compressor to give a
pressure rise of 1 bar from atmospheric conditions. Find, for the same diameter of 20
cm, power required per kg and the rpm in each case assuming the power coefficient.
w
= =1
U2 / 2 (Atmospheric conditions P=1 bar, T = 27°C)

9. A centrifugal water pump is to be designed for a capacity of 5.7 m3/s, a head 135 m
and speed of 450 rpm. A model of this pump was designed to give 0.2 m3/s consuming
220 hp. The model efficiency was found to be 0.89. You are required to:
• Calculate the speed of the model.
• Calculate the scale ratio.
10. A quarter scale hydraulic turbine model is tested to work under ahead of 11 m. The full
scale turbine is required to work under a head of 30 m and to run at 430 rpm. At what
speed must the model run? If the model develops 100 kW and uses 1.05 m3/s of water,
what power and rate of flow will be obtained from the full scale turbine assuming that
it's efficiency is 3% better than that of the model.
11. A water turbine is to be designed to produce 36,600 kW running at 93.7 rpm under a
head of 16m. A model which is to have an output of 50 kW is to be tested under
dynamically similar conditions with head of 5 m. Calculate the model speed and scale
ratio. Assuming a model efficiency of 88%, estimate the volume rate of flow through
the model.
12. A centrifugal compressor when running at 3000rpm develops a pressure of 1.05 bar
and a mass flow rate of 0.3 kg/s. If the inlet area of the compressor is 0.01 m2, find the
mass flow rate when the compressor runs at 18,000 rpm. Estimate also the inlet Mach
No., and the developed pressure. (Atmospheric conditions are 1.02 bar and 300 K).
13. A pump is designed to deliver 2 l/s of a fluid at a head of 10 m when rotating at 750
rpm. The viscosity of the fluid is double that of the water and the specific density is
1.2. Find the power and the rpm of the pump when tested with water.
14. An axial-flow fan of 1.8 m diameter draws air from atmosphere and is designed to run
at speed of 1400 rpm with an axial air speed of 12 m/s. A quarter scale model has been
built for testing at a speed of 4200 rpm. The air to the model is supplied from a
pressure tank so that the model runs under complete dynamic similar conditions as
those of the prototype. Assuming viscosity and temperature of air are the same in
model and prototype, at what inlet pressure the model should be tested and what will
be the axial air speed in model? Neglect effect of Mach number. Also find the exit
pressure after the model (Take  = 1).